Subaru holds Kansha Festival Week

MOTOR Image Pilipinas Inc., the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in the country, will once again hold its Kansha Festival from Feb. 1 to 7.

Also known as Subaru’s “Customer Appreciation Week,” the Kansha festival is originally a celebration adapted from the Japanese “Kinro Kansha no Hi” or Labor Thanksgiving Day.

The word “kansha” literally means “thank you” in Japanese, and Motor Image has been marking this occasion by holding this annual promotion since it began its operations in 2007.

The Kinro Kansha no Hi is an occasion for commemorating the labor workforce and also a rite for offering thanksgiving to one another.

It also encourages advocacy on the environment, human rights and industrial harmony.

In Japan, it is not unusual for students to create drawings and artworks to celebrate this holiday and give them as gifts to the local “koban” or police stations.

In ancient Japan, where agriculture is the foremost livelihood, these festivals are more of a harvest ritual. The earliest recorded festivities took place during the reign of Emperor Jimmu (660-585 BC), and a more formalized celebration evolved during the reign of Emperor Seinei (480-484 AD).

But modern-day scholars believe that it was the time of Emperor Temmu (673-686 AD) that started to dedicate the year’s harvest to the “kami” (spirits) using rice for the first time in the ceremony.

Its modern version came after World War II, which marked the changes in the postwar Japan, including the institutionalization and expansion of worker rights.

Subaru’s observance of this Japanese holiday marks this weeklong festival by following the spirit of thanksgiving by dedicating this week as an opportunity to give thanks to its customers by giving away exclusive offers on selected Subaru accessories, parts, aftersales service and merchandise items.

Like in past festivals, there will be a service clinic that will provide a free 25-point safety checkup in any of the showrooms in Edsa Greenhills, Global City and Manila Bay from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for customers who bring in their Subaru vehicle.

The weeklong Kansha Festival will also consist of different attractions for the whole family. Selected Subaru showrooms will be decorated with Japanese-inspired ornaments, and an array of food will be available as customers patiently wait while friendly service advisors cater to their vehicles.